Basics of Communism

[raja302]

Hi. I'm a senior in high school who has become curious about Communism. So when my teacher asked me what project i would like to do for my 20th century china class i immediately said communism in China. However i don't have time to try and read Das Kapital or the communist manifesto, as it would require far too much time to try and understand it. So what i am asking you guys is if you could recommend some reputable sites for learning the basics of Communism. I would really like to read the above mentioned books but I don't have that kind of time.
So could guys please help out a communist noob?

[Pierson's]

communism in china? "communist china" is an oxymoron at the moment, because there is no communism in china.

china has been developing a capitalist economy for many years now, allowing large private businesses, etc. they are not making any moves towards a true socialist economy.

[ArrowLance]

Communism is control, freedom, and liberty for the worker. It sees private ownership and wage-labour as tools used to enslave the workers.

A Communist State, is any state that is trying to achieve the goals of Communism; destroying the bourgeoisie, private property, and other injustices that workers face.

So when we look at 'Communism' in China we have to look for if, and how, China is moving towards the goals of the workers. Honestly, I am mostly ignorant of the Chinese revolution and its governance under Mao and co. but as for modern day China I can say I do not see where they are making these advances. In fact I see the opposite; more and more privatization.

For you research you should be able to at least read some of Mao's works and the Communist Manifesto, they are very short. Marxists.org is a good site for some Marxist literature as for Mao, I don't know.

But if you have some time I wouldn't mind talking to you more personally, although I might not be too useful due to my general ignorance of 'Chinese Communism.' Send me a PM or drop by the live chat if you are interested.

[mikelepore]

The Communist Manifesto is a skinny pamphlet. You can read it in about an hour.

[FSL]

Principles of Communism by Engels is really short and answers most things you'd like to know. You can find it online in www.marxists.org (http://www.marxists.org).

[revolution inaction]

Hi. I'm a senior in high school who has become curious about Communism. So when my teacher asked me what project i would like to do for my 20th century china class i immediately said communism in China. However i don't have time to try and read Das Kapital or the communist manifesto, as it would require far too much time to try and understand it. So what i am asking you guys is if you could recommend some reputable sites for learning the basics of Communism. I would really like to read the above mentioned books but I don't have that kind of time.
So could guys please help out a communist noob?

libcom.org is a good comunist web site, has a few articals on china to, http://libcom.org/tags/china

here's are introduction to anarchist communism (http://libcom.org/thought/anarchist-communism-an-introduction) and libertarian communism, capitalism and direct action (http://libcom.org/thought/libertarian-communism-capitalism-direct-action-introduction)

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Here's one of the best short introductions there is:

http://users.comcen.com.au/~marcn/redflag/archive/harman/hmw/index.html

[chebol]

I would recommend reading all of the above (even if I don't agree with some or many of them). Marxism isn't a closed doctrine, but is based on a scientific analysis of the material conditions. It is important - as Marx said - to "question everything".

More specifically on China, I recommend giving this a read: The Class Nature of the Chinese State (http://www.dsp.org.au/node/119)

[Schrödinger's Cat]

If you don't have the time to read something so small and basic as the Communist Manifesto, I don't think you have time to write a good paper.

[bailey_187]

Ignore the Anarchists.

This is a good source of info on China
http://www.chinastudygroup.org/

Also, learning the Anarchist/ultra-left view on Communism that many are pushing in the above posts is not going to help you on studying China - maybe you will agree with them but its not going to help for your school project

Look up Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong thought and Maoism - Those forms of Communist thought will help you understand China in the 20th century.

[BobKKKindle$]

You might want to begin by giving this (http://www.revleft.com/vb/chinese-revolution-essentially-t119849/index.html?t=119849) essay a read, specifically on China. For a more general discussion on socialism, Rosa's link is good, this (http://www.swp.org.uk/where.php) set of articles might also come in handy.

bailey_187, that link seems to be broken.

[bailey_187]

oh, was .net not .org, thanks

http://chinastudygroup.net/

[hugsandmarxism]

Hi. I'm a senior in high school who has become curious about Communism. So when my teacher asked me what project i would like to do for my 20th century china class i immediately said communism in China. However i don't have time to try and read Das Kapital or the communist manifesto, as it would require far too much time to try and understand it. So what i am asking you guys is if you could recommend some reputable sites for learning the basics of Communism. I would really like to read the above mentioned books but I don't have that kind of time.
So could guys please help out a communist noob?

You might want to read up on the cultural revolution. Kasama has a good evaluation (http://mikeely.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/mlmrsg-evaluating-chinas-cultural-revolution-and-its-legacy-for-the-future/).

Also, a good video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRkKKRdiTBc) on the revolution from 1914-1949.

[bailey_187]

Also, look out for the movie "Passion of the Mao" online - a good documentary of Maoist China

[Axle]

Capital is a monsterous tome that actually would take too much time to finish and understand, but the Communist Manifesto is about forty pages long. It won't take you hardly any time at all.

[raja302]

Thanks for the replies guys. I picked up the Manifesto from the library and will read it tonight, and use the links you provided tomorrow. All this help has the added benifit of making me a better Communist along with giving me a good grade:) Once again, thank you.